ADA Revamps Its Complete Guide to Diabetes

"It's a new era in diabetes care, the era of patient-focused care." So begins the new fifth edition of the American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes. The ADA's most comprehensive book for people with diabetes reflects the evolution of diabetes management and treatment since the 2005 edition. This fully revised guide offers new chapters on both women's and men's health, a new section on continuous glucose monitors, a fuller discussion of mental health and diabetes, and many updates, including on health care reform and workplace laws protecting people with diabetes from discrimination.

"The tools available for diabetes care continue to improve, and knowing exactly what tools are available to treat your diabetes is more important than ever," says David Kendall, MD, the ADA's chief scientific and medical officer. "The Guide offers insight and advice, reviews all the new and old tools for management, and gives a personal perspective on how to live well with diabetes."

The Guide has been reorganized so that it's easier for readers to zero in on the information they're seeking. Its eight sections feature shorter chapters on specific subjects, each beginning with a topic list. The chapters cover subjects like "Basics of Monitoring Blood Glucose," "Healthy Food," and "Family Life and Children With Diabetes." The text is studded with boxes defining diabetes terms and offering practical tips.

Kendall notes that there are updated discussions of diabetes management, new and improved technologies for monitoring and controlling diabetes, the role of the health care team, and helpful ways to stay on track in maintaining blood glucose control. "In this era of patient-centered care, we trust that this will help you improve your diabetes control," he says.

More than just a book on the basics, the Guide offers useful tools, such as a sample Diabetes Medical Management Plan for use by the parents of schoolchildren with diabetes; information about handling emergencies; tips on traveling with diabetes; and a long list of resources and contacts. The Guide is "an incredibly valuable toolbox," Kendall says, "that provides you with the information you need to work with your health care team to achieve the best care possible."